Council updated on South Side well

October 23, 2013

Residents approached city council at a special meeting in August about a well drilled by Timothy Koebley.

"This issue has been ongoing for four years," Peter To, a Biddle Street resident representing a group of residents, said at Monday night's meeting of city council. To said he is "looking for closure on this industrial activity in a residential area. Mr. Koebley has unsuccessfully tried three times to get this industrial activity approved."

According to City Solicitor Andrea Stapleford, she has "had productive conversations" with Koebley's attorney "over the last few weeks" and that the situation is "moving quickly toward a resolution."

Stapleford said she is "hoping to have it resolved by the November meeting."

If resolved, Mayor Mark Phillips asked Stapleford if she would lay out the terms at the November meeting. "What do south side residents walk away with?" he asked.

Stapleford said that the negotiations are in settlement discussions which are confidential and that she "can't go into great detail."

To added that the state Department of Environmental Protection found Koebley's well "in violation in terms of his well permit and revoked the permit for his well."

"The city has authority to enforce its own zoning ordinance," he added. "We feel that the decision on this matter should be made without further delay."

Phillips said members of council are not even privy to the discussions that are ongoing.

"The well should be sealed," Councilman John Lewis said. "Anything less than that (and) we haven't done our job."

Stapleford informed council that no decision would be made without its approval. "Once we have all the questions answered... we would then come to council" with possible resolutions.

She added that the discussion would occur in executive session as a litigation matter.